Villagevoices1-19Dec2015_vv20/11/201517:22Page1 Village Voices The local magazine for Boyton, Capel, Hollesley and Shingle Street December 2015 Villagevoices1-19Dec2015_vv20/11/201517:22Page2 Dates for your December diary Thurs 3 - Sun 6 Hollesley Players Jack and the Beanstalks VH Fri 4 10.00–3pm Christmas Wreath Making, Suffolk Punch Trust Fri 4 3.15-5.00pm Hollesley Pre-School Christmas Fayre Fri 4 7.30pm Sutton Quiz Night, Sutton MH Sat 5 10.00-noon Craft Christmas coffee morning Bawdsey VH Sat 5 10.30–12noon Boyton Coffee Morning, Boyton VH Sat/Sun 5/6 Winter Wonderland Fair, Suffolk Punch Trust Mon 7 Christmas Tea for Senior Citizens, Sutton MH Fri 11 10.00–3pm Christmas Wreath Making , SPT Sat 12 9.30-12.30 Hollesley Community Café, Hollesley VH Sat 12 2-4pm Hollesley School Bazaar Sat 12 2-4pm Bawdsey Christmas Market Bawdsey VH Sat 12 12-4.00pm Gill Moon photography sale Shottisham Trust Hall Regular Events Monday 7.30pm Yoga Hollesley VH Elly Lloyd 412053 Monday 7.30pm Pilates Sutton Heath Sandy 410530 Tuesday 2pm Welcome Club Marian C 411262 Tuesday Hollesley Bay Day Club Eileen M 410340 Tuesday 9am Tai Chi Hollesley VH Ali 411717 Wednesday 9.45 & 11am Pilates Hollesley VH Sandy 410530 Wednesday 6.30-8.30pm Youth club Hollesley VH Just42 380992 Weds/Sun 2-4pm Bowls Club Hollesley Roy 411564 Wednesday 7.30pm Pilates Sutton Heath Sandy 410530 Thursday Judo Club Julie 410483 Thursday After school EVNU All Saints’ Ruth 412052 Thursday 2pm Art Classes Butley VH Mary 450077 Thursday Week 2 7.30pm Hollesley WI Gerry 411376 Thursday Week 3 7.30pm Jazz Society Bawdsey VH Tony 410353 Friday 9.15am Yoga Hollesley VH Elly Lloyd 412053 Friday 11am Coffee Morning Shepherd & Dog Friday 7pm Whist Boyton VH Eileen M 410340 Sunday (last) 8pm Charity Quiz Shepherd & Dog Please email [email protected] with updates to this information. Page 2 December 2015 www.villagevoices.org.uk Villagevoices1-19Dec2015_vv20/11/201517:22Page3 From the editor Dear readers, As 2015 draws to a close and the Season of Goodwill comes around once more, we do hope that you will enjoy the December issue of Village Voices . There are plenty of bazaars, fairs and craft markets to attend, as well as Christmas wreath-making, a Christmas coffee morning and senior citizens Christmas tea (see p.2 for details). On p.9 you will find details of all church services taking place during the Christmas Season, as well as various carol concerts, carol singing (p.31) and the annual Memories Service at St Andrew’s church, Boyton (p.15). For young people aged between n 11-18, thanks to Hollesley Parish o o Council, the Youth Club will now be M l held in Hollesley Village Hall l i G during the winter months (p.27). Try to catch local photographer Gill Moon’s Christmas photography exhibition and sale in Shottisham Trust Hall (see above photo and Diary). The Village Voices team join me in thanking all our advertisers, delivery and distribution team and contributors for your support during the past year. We send you and all our readers Christmas greetings and every good wish for the New Year. Cheryl Gray Christmas greeting cover design by Gerry Bathe Please note that the opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the editorial team. If you usually receive a copy through your door and this does not happen one month, please ring Laurie (distribution lead) on 01394 411727. Please note the copy deadline is early for January issue: 3 December Editorial copy : Cheryl, Ali, Advertising Nick, Jess, Diane Gerry Bathe [email protected] [email protected] Copy on paper to: 1 Rectory Road, Laurie Forsyth, 11A, Parsons Hill, Hollesley, IP12 3JS Hollesley, IP12 3RB Tel: 01394 411376 Tel: 01394 411727 www.villagevoices.org.uk Page 3 December 2015 Villagevoices1-19Dec2015_vv20/11/201517:22Page4 Local lives - Lydia Calvesbert Lydia developed her passion for theatre from the age of 9 years when she first appeared on stage in the village hall of Capel St Mary. This was as the lead role in The Lonely One, a children’s play about a friendless child, which was written by a Battle of Britain pilot with a terrible facial disfigurement, having been shot down in a blazing Spitfire. At the time, the post-war 1940’s, Lydia was living with her family in Great Wenham and attending the local Primary School. Here she passed her 11+ and transferred to Stowmarket Grammar School, where the Head of English involved her in school productions, casting her for example as the incorruptible Gwenny in Emlyn Williams The Late Christopher Bean. On leaving school, Lydia gained a place at Goldsmiths College, University of London where she trained to be a teacher, studying English and History and gaining a diploma in Speech and Drama. It was the swinging sixties and the advent of the kitchen-sink drama. During her time at Goldsmiths, Lydia appeared in John Osborne’s Look Back in Anger and took the lead role in Arnold Wesker’s Roots - a powerful modern drama about women’s lives at the kitchen sink from which there seemed to be no escape. Returning to her native Suffolk, Lydia began her teaching career in Secondary Modern Schools. She was keen to further develop her own interest in the stage and began by joining the Ipswich Masque Players. They were renowned for good straight plays which were in vogue at the time, such as Billy Liar and Arthur Contributed Lydia (rhs) appearing as Fatima in Sinbad the Sailor 1981 Miller’s The Crucible, in which Lydia took the part of Elizabeth. She joined Hollesley Players in 1981, a year after their inauguration. In her first pantomime with the company, she took the part of Fatima, the harem girl in Sinbad the Sailor. The part required her to wear a pink bikini - thus proving another side to her versatility! In the review which appeared in the local magazine The Peninsula, she was quoted as being the scheming hand-maiden Fatima, ably portrayed by Lydia Calvesbert. Lydia appeared in over sixty productions with the Hollesley Players from 1981- 2013 when she would finally hang up her hat. During this time, she produced twenty plays and appeared in pantomimes from witch to detective and part-lead in fish-net tights! Page 4 December 2015 ww.villagevoices.org.uk Villagevoices1-19Dec2015_vv20/11/201517:22Page5 The Happiest Days of Your Life 1982 was the second time Lydia trod the boards in Hollesley village hall. She took the part played by Margaret Rutherford in the film version, that of Miss Evelyn Whit- church, principal of St Swithin’s School for Girls, a battle-axe wearing a tweed suit and a pork-pie hat! Lydia’s first production as director with Hollesley Players was Arnold Wesker’s Roots, 1984. A play close to her heart, having appeared in it herself at Goldsmiths College, this was a new Contributed Lydia (rhs) in The Happiest Days challenge into which Lydia became of Your Life totally immersed, enjoying sharing her skills with her fellow players. Wishing to improve their range, the Hollesley Players attempted a Restoration comedy The Beaux Stratagem in the Spring of 1986. This play was first shown at the Theatre Royal, now the site of Her Majesty's Theatre, London, in 1707. Lydia appeared in eighteenth century costume complete with wig and crinoline gown! She very much felt it was important to choose productions which would Robin Baker Audrey and John Shelcott in Roots illustrate the diversity of the group’s many talents. This not only involved the actors, but also those who were designing sets, props and costumes. In 1996 Lydia produced Sweeney Todd, the first time the company had attempted a melodrama - with exaggerated characters and exciting events intended to appeal to the emotions. It also tested the range of skills of the set designers John Maddock and Jim Wyllie, who specially constructed a tipping barber’s chair! The group now went from strength to Robin Baker Lydia Calvesbert (2nd left) as Mrs strength and put on such productions as: Sullen in The Beaux’ Stratagem When We Are Married 1996, which Lydia chose and produced, in order to bring out further facets of the group’s rapidly increasing range of capabilities. Noel Coward’s Hayfever appeared in 1998 and Letter From the General by Maurice McLoughlin in 2001. This was a powerful play of conscience about a group of nuns in a mission station in the Far East in 1950. The country had been taken over by a harsh communist regime and all foreigners were being ejected. News had reached the mission that some nuns and priests were www.villagevoices.org.uk Page 5 December 2015 Villagevoices1-19Dec2015_vv20/11/201517:22Page6 DavidFriendHeatingServices Central Heating service, repair & installation Renewable energy systems - water and heating CentralHeatingandPlumbing RenewableEnergy • Oil,gas&LPGboilerserviceandrepair • Solarhotwaterheating • Oilandgasheatinginstallation • Airsourceheatpumps • AGARayburnserviceandrepair • GroundSourceheat • Cookers&Fires pumps • Oiltankreplacement • Landlords’Certificates Promptefficientserviceandfreequotes:01394411839Mob:07786971425 e.mail:[email protected] Page 6 December 2015 www.villagevoices.org.uk Villagevoices1-19Dec2015_vv20/11/201517:22Page7 being shot. The remaining nuns had been ordered to leave. However, as they were harbouring a German missionary priest who had escaped capture, leaving wasn’t so simple. This was a challenging and thought-provoking piece. The year 2010 heralded the 30th anniversary of Hollesley Players and to celebrate what better than an Agatha Christie play! Lydia produced Verdict which received the following review in Peninsula magazine written by Pat Shannon: Those who were unable to see either of the three performances of ‘Verdict’ missed an excellent production and Lydia and her well- chosen players are to be congratulated on the result .